Electrically-operated score-board.



s. A, RBDDING. ELEGTRIGALLY OPBRATBD SCORE BOARD.`

APPLICATION FILED JUNBQ, 1909.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

S. A. REDDING.

ELBCTRICALLY OPERATED SCORE BOARD.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 9. 1909.

atten-w13 S. A. REDDING.

ELECTRIGALLY OPERATED SCORE BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED JUNBQ. 1909.

1,000,039. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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A s. A. RBDDING.

ELEGTRIGALLY OPBRATED soon BOARD. l APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1909. 1 ,000,039, Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wn; illhr i UNTTED sTATEs .PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL ARTHUR REDDING, or ATLANTA, GEORGTA.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED SCORE-BOARD.

Theobject of the present invention is to. provide a simple and comparatively ineX- pensive electrically operated -zs'core board,

equipped with character and numbersignals,

adapted for *makingf'announcements at games of. amiisements,-'scli as baseballgjfoot ball, tennis, horsefracesjffeftc., vcapable also of use invarious linesfof business and elsewhere fortrafnsmitting `at a distance orders or messages 'of any character.

With these ,and other objects in view, the invention consistsl in the construction and novelV combination ofv parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings',l and ,pointed out inthe claims 'hereto 'appended it being u understood that various Vchanges .-in the form', proportion. size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims,may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or sacritcing any of the advantages yof the invention.

In the drawings Figure l is a diagrammatic view, illustrating a baseball score board and a key board, constructed in accordance wit-h thisinvention. Fig. 2 is'a rear elevation of one of the character signals and the operating mechanism. therefor. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. et is an enlarged sectional view ofA the character signal, illustrating the construction .for connecting the pivotedslats with the armature of the signal actuating electro-magnet. .Figa 5 is a diagrammatic the disk signals. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View, illustrating the construction of the number signals. Fig. 7 is a. vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the number signals. Fig.

9 is a plan view of one of the iexible number bearing strips. Fig. 10 is a detail view of a portion of the frame-work.

Like numerals of reference designate ciorresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment of the invent-ion illus- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 9, 1909.

-stitute a part,`but the score 'changed and the Patented Aug. 8,

Serial No. 501,047.

trated in the accompanying drawings, the score board 1 is designed for use at a base ball tield or park for announcing the details andl result of a game of base ball, as the same is played on the said field, and also for announcing the runs and the score by innings of other games simultaneously played by other clubs of any league or association of which the clubs using the score board con- Y signal units may be employed either singly or associated with each .other for other games, and for making announcements for any other purpose, either on land, or at sea,ras the signals can be employed as a means of communication between the various shipsof a Heet, passing ships, or between a ship'and a shore or other station. In practice the surface of the score board will be. black and thev signals will appear. 1n white, but for :convenience of illustration in the accompanying drawings, the sjgnalsare shown in black on white surfaces. The score board is provided at the top with a space 2 lfor a suitable heading, which may consist of the naine of the home base ball club and the ,words Oiiicial Score Board. It is provided with a Details column 3, which is preferably located at the board may be left hand side of` the score board.` In this column Vsuch details of the gaine as balls, strikes and outs are indicated by disk dicated by the numeral signal .5. Although only disk shaped signals andfnunieral signals are illustrated in the laccompanying drawings, yet it will beapparei'it rthat other forms ot' signal than disks may be used. and that letters may be substituted for ithe numerals. -At the top of the Details column immediately below vthen-'ord Details apl pears the word f balls *and uiider the saine is*v a row of disk; signals'fl', 'which are three in Anumber :for indicating that either one,

ptwof'ior-Ythreejballshave`beeii called on the pitcher.; Shou'ldtheneztballbe called on the pitcher thehattger'will take his position at theffibA` "andthe signalsiiidicating the balls` an strikes. will loe-"erased by the tn eansf-herei` lf t'er described. A' series or group of'two disksignals is employed forindica-tingV the number of strikes, two. being all that is necessary as the player' quits the bat when the threestrikes have been called against him. Y

Each 'of the disk signalscomprises a series of pivotal slats 6, mounted within arectangular casing 7 and adapted to be opened and closed to arrange them either edgewise or flatwise with respect to the aperture. The casing, which is constructed of metal. or other suitable material, has a front wall or vmember 8, provided with a circular opening for exposing a circular portion of the slats to display a disk signal, but Vby changing the form of opening the shape of the signal may be varied. The casing is also provided with top, bottom and side walls, and it has a rear wall orback 9. Thefront wall is provided at the opening with aplateor pane 10 of glass, or other suitable transparent material. 'lhe pivotal slats, which are adapted to be arranged ina vertical position to display the signal and in a horizontal position to erase or remove the signal, are provided at their lower edges with pivots 11 and 12, mountedin suitable perforations of flanges 13, preferably consisting of angle strips secured to the inner face of the front wall of the casing at opposite sides of the circular opening. The slats are also provided with crank arms 14,V preferably formed by extensions of the pivots 12 and connected with a vertical bar 15, which causes the slats to move in unison.- The vertical connecting bar is adapted to support thev slats in a horizontal position with their pivoted edges disposed toward the front of the score board, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, andiwhen viewed in thisl position, they are invisible at a distance. The rear-wall or back 9 of the casing forms a plain i'background, which is exposed when the slats are arranged edgewise. The surfaces or faces of the slats exposed by swinging the slats upward from the horizontal position, illustrated in Fig., 3 to the vertical position shown in Fig. 2, are white while the casing is black. This will cause a white disk to be displayed on a black surface or background, thereby producing a signal, which vmay be distinctly seen from a considerable distance.y 'lhccasing is provided at the bottoni with an interiorly arranged horizontal bar 16 of wood, or other suitable material, adapted to limit the downward movement of the connecting bar 15 and forming a support for the same. The bar 16 also furnishes convenient means for mounting the binding posts of electrical con.- nections, hereinafter described.

The upper end of thebar.15 is connected by aV short link 17 with the outer portion of an armature 18 of an electro-magnet 19, arranged at the center of the top of the cas ing. The armature 18 is pivoted at its inner end 20 to a bracket 21, in which the electro-magnet is mounted The outer end 22 of the armature 18 extends beyond the linl; 17, and is arranged to be automatically engaged by a latch2l3, pivoted at its upper end 2a to a bracket 25, or other suitable lto swing magnet 31 horizontal position.

support and having a beveled or tapered lower portion and provided at the upper end of the tapered portion with a recess, forming a shoulder 2G for engagement wit-h the outer `end of the armature 18. The pivoted latch,

which is approximately vertical, is connected at its upper portion with a horizontally disposed coiled sprin'g 27, secured at the outer -end to an eye of the vertical latch and connected at its inner end with a pin 28, which is adjustably secured in an opening of a stud 29 by a clamping screw 30. The pin 28 is adjusted longitudinally to vary the tension of the spring, which urges the latch toward the armature 18, and causes the latch to automatically engage the same, when the armature is actuated by the electro-magnet the signal, formed by the same. By this construction, it is only necessary to depress for an instant the button connected with the electro-magnet, as the signal circuit hereinafter described lwill be closed and the electro-magnet 19 energized. The latch 23 maintains' the disk signal displayed until the same is released by a latch operating electro-magnet 31, disposed horizontally and mounted in the bracket 25. The electro is located at the outer side of the llatch 23, and when energized attracts the latch, which constitutes thev armature of the electro-magnet 31. The energizing. of the electro-magnet 31 swings the latch outward withdrawing the shoulder thereof from engagement'with the armature 18-and permitting the slats to drop by gravity to their This erases or removes the disk signal from the score board. An instants depression of the release 4button is sufficient to permit the slats of the disk signal to swing downward to their horizontal or unexposed position.

The wiring of a group of three of the disk signals is illustrated in Fig. 5 ofthe accompanying drawings. ln this particulararrangement they would be the series of disk signals employed for indicating balls One side 32 of the battery wire extends to the push buttons 33, while the other side34 "of the battery wire is common to one end of each of the vertical coils 35, which represent the vertical electro-magnets for displaying the disk signals. The wires at the opposite end of each of the said coils 35 run to the buttons. The horizontal coii 36 of three boxes -or casings represent the horizontal latch operating electro-magnets, and are connected in series; the first on the left is connected to the common battery wire through the medium of the wire which connects the first vertical coil with the battery wire-"34, and the wire from the last on the right runs to `the knock-oif button. When the knockoi button is depressed, the latch releasing circuit is closed and each of the electrothe slats 6 upward for displayingy magnets thereof is energized, so that one or all of the signals may be erased or removed from the board by a single pressing of the said knock-off button.' The wiring of a group of two of the disk signals would be the same as that illustrated in Fig. 5 with the omission of the intermediate box or casing, and the wiring of an increased number -of signals would be the same as that illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the only change' consisting in the duplication of the wiring of the intermediate box or casing. ln a score board forbase ball, it is not necessary to employ a larger group than three, but in other games or for other purposes, it may be desirable o1' advantageous to employ larger groups of signals.

The number signal 5, which shows the number of runs made during an inning, consists of akflexible strip or belt 37, bearing a series of numerals from naught to nine,'

which are adapted to be successively exposed at the front of a rectangular casing 38, constructed of metal or other suitable material and provided at the front with an aperture, covered with a plate or pane 39 of glass, or other transparent material. The casing presents a black appearance similar to the casing of the disk signals, and the numbers are preferably white and are arranged on a black surface, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, although any color may be employed for the signals and the background for the same.

Letters may be substituted for the numerals, and the strips may be increased in length to accommodate the desired number of characters. The end portions 40 of the flexible strip are red for about a distance of two feet and operate as danger signals, which, as hereinafter explained, will be displayed in case the operator through carelessness presses any of the controlling buttons too long, or in case a butto-n gets out of order. Should the b'utton remain depressed even after the red porti-on of the belt appears, the mechanism will finally cut itself out automatically without damage, as hereinafter fully explained.

The flexible strip, which has a stretch or port-ion exposed at the opening at the front of the casing, is arranged'on upper and lower guide rolls 41 and 42, and the terminal portions of the flexible strip are wound around upper and lower winding rolls 43 and 44. The rolls are journaled in suitable bearings of a supporting frame 45, which is suitably mounted within the casing 38. The upper and lower guide rolls 41 and 42, which are of relatively small diameter, are pro-` vided with journals, which are arranged in bearing openings of the sides of the frame. 45, and the winding rolls 43 and 44, which are relatively large, are provided with terminal flanges and are mounted on suitable shafts 46 and 47, which are journaled in bearings of the sides of the frame. As the flexible strip is reeled from one winding roll onto the other, the rolled up portions of the flexible strip vary in size, and as the rolls are driven'at the same rate of speed by the means hereinafter described, the wind ing and the unwinding of the flexible strip is not uniform, and in order to compensate for this to avoid stretching or tearing the flexible connection, a tension loop 48 is formed between the upper guide roll 41 and the upper winding roll 43. The tension loop 48 receives a weighted tension roll 49 having suitable journals or gudgeons, arranged in' vertical slots 50 of the sides of the supporting frame 45. The weighted tension roll maintains the front vert-ical stretch or portion taut at the front of the casing, and it takes up any slack in the flexible strip, and at the same time it is adapted to permit the same to yield when it is wound up on one vof the winding rolls more rapidly than it is unwound from the other winding roll.

The shafts 46 and 47 are extended through one of the sides of the frame 45, and carry upper and lower spur gears 51 and 52, which mesh with an intermediate gear 53, adapt ed to uniformly rotate the upper and lower gears 51 a'nd 52 in the opposite direction, so that the flexible strip will be wound around one of the winding rolls and unwound from the other, when the intermediate gea-r is rot-ated in either direction. The intermediate gear is driven by a pinion 54, mounted on the shaft 55 of alfriction roll 56. The friction roll 56, which is arranged horizontally, extends across the supporting frame at a point between the upper and lower winding rolls 43 and 6.44, and

it is located adjacent to a mot-or driven friction roll 57. Motion iscommunicated from the mot-or driven friction roll 57 to the friction roll 56 through a rubber covered electrically controlled friction roll 58, located above the friction rolls 56 and 57 and, mounted on a suitable sha-ft 59, which is journaled in a vertically movable frame or support 60, composed of spaced vertical rods 61, guided in alined openings of spaced upper and lower VVhorizontal bars 62 and 63 and connected at their lower ends Vby a cross bar 64,' carrying a depending armature 65 of an iron bound electro-magnet 66. The horizontal bars 62 and 63 are suitably secured at their terminals to theA sides of the frame 45, and the friction roll 58 is normally supported above and out of Contact with the friction rolls 56 and 57 by coiled springs 67, located between the spaced hoi-if zont-al bars 62 and 63 and bearing against the lower bars 63 and engaging pins 68, or

58 in 'spaced relation with the friction rolls 56 and 57. When the electro-magnet 66 is energized, it attracts the armature and draws the frame 60 downward against the action of the springs 67, and holds the friction roll 68 in contact with the rolls 56 vand 57. The switch board button, which is connected with the'electrdmagnet, is held depressed until the winding rolls are rotated a suffcient'dista'nce to display the desired number. at the front of the casing. In practice the casings of allthe signals will be one foot square, and if zero is desired about a second andA a half will be required to produce it. It the numeral l is desired double this time is necessary, and so on .up

to the numeral 9, which is the last on the strip. As soon as the number desired by the operator appears at the front of the casing,

the rpush button is released, and thespoiled springs instantly operate to carry the upper 'friction gear out of engagement. with the,V other, lfriction gears. All of the friction rolls, if desired, may be rubber covered,

and Vvother forms of ear elements may .be

substituted for the fraction rolls, if desired.

Should; throughany cause the friction gear 58 remain in contact with the other friction gears, the movement of the leXible strip from one'winding roll to the other will continue until the flexible strip is entirely unwound'from one of the winding rolls, the. further rotation of the winding rolls will then contract the tension loop' 48 and raise the tension roll. One of the gudgeons or journals 69 of the tension roll is eX- tended, and an upper horizontal leve-r 70 of the switch operating mechanism is arranged in the path of the journal or gudgeon 69. The upper lever 70, which extends across the slot 50, is pivoted at its outer or front end 71, and its inner or rear end is connected by a rod 72 with a lower lever i 73, arranged horizontally and pivoted at its front end 74. The lower end of the rod. 72

is connected with the lever 73 at an intermediate point, and the rear end of the lower lever73 is bent 'at `right angles and extends through a slot- 75 of the adjacent side of the casing, and is connected by a block or piece 76 jof insulating material with a resilient switch arm or member 77 of a switch in the signal circuit. When the continued upward movenient of the tension roll 49 through the overwinding of the iexible strip carries the eX- tended gudgeon 69 into engagement with the upper lever 70, the latter is raised and the resilient arm ory member 77 of the switch is lifted out of Contact wit-h the button or terminal 78. The opening of the switch breaks the circuit and cuts out the signal, which must be reset by hand. The connecting block or piece 76 is bifurcated at its upper portion to receive theangularly bent rear end of the' lower horizontal lever, and

ancona n its lower end carries a de ending headed fastening device 79, which 1s en aged with a slot;J or bifurcation 80 by the ee end of the resilient arm or member 77 of the switch. i The score board is provided with a Clubs column 81, equipped at intervals with hooks 82, arranged in sets and adapted to support sign plates 83, provided at their upper edges" with eyes to receive the hooks. The sign plates are disposed in pairs and are designed to bear the names of the contesting clubs, the pairs beigspaced apart a great/er distance than the members of each pair of the sign plates. The sign plates or name plates are detachable and interchangeable, and are also reversible to present either face to the front, the rear face of each sign or m-ain plate being designed to bear the word Rain or No game or a similar expression for indicating the fact that there has been no game on account of rain, or` other cause. The Clubs column is preferably located contiguous to the inner margin ot the Details column, and the space to the right of the Clubs column is diizided into vertical Innings columns 84:, Unumbered one to ten, the numbers of the columns being permanent and arranged at the top of the same. and are intersected by rows of numeral signals 85, constructed similar to the numeral signal 5, a row being provided for each of the clubs, whose names appear in the Clubs column. A Total column 86 is arranged at the right hand end of the series of innings columns and is of double the width thereof to accommodate a pair of numeral indicators, in order that a number including two igures may be displayed for indicating the total number of runs made by a club. The lower portion of the score board bea-rs a horizontal row of numerals 87, ranging from one to twenty-four, and over the row are the words Numbers represent names of players, while under the row 87 of numbers is a horizontal row 88 of disk signals, a. disk signal being associated with and corres nding to each of the numbers of the row 8 Immediately beneath the row 88 of the disk signals are the words Disk indicates player at bat The names of lthe umpires are also designed to be presented on removable sign plates or name plates 89, provided at their upper edges with eyes and suspended from the board by hooks 90, which engage the eyes. The word Umf pires appears in front of the left hand name or sign plate 89, And is placed on the score board between the sign or name plates 89.

By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the game has just passed the fourth inning. There are two balls and one strike called on the batter, who is No. 9, and the name of any player repre- The Innings columns contain sented by any number will be shown on the printed score card given out in the grand stand. One out has been called and two runs have been made. Should the next ball thrown by. a pitcher be a strike a second disk under the Word Strikes will be made to appear. If a. ball a third disk under the Word Balls will show up. After the third out is made, the balls,7 strikes and outs will be erased or removed from the score board, and the runs transferred from the Details column to the score by innings. The score board is designed tobe operated from the press box by the ofcial scorer or his assistant, and. the operatingv or keyboard 91 will be a miniature," inj general appearance of the large score barlljf There the disks appear on the'largefrscorefboard, push buttons 92 will occupy'eorresponding posit-ions on the key board." -Also Where numbers appear for Runs and Score by innings on the scoreboard, push buttons 93 and 94 will appear'on the key board. There will also be nine other push buttons 941, 95, 96, and 98 onfthe key board to be used for erasing or removing the balls, strikes, outs and groups of disks representing the players at. bat. As the operating board is practically a reproduction of the regular score board, itis a very simple mattentooperate the apparatus. Each of :the electro-magnets used for throwing a signal into view has a corresponding button on 'the operating board, but in the case of the latch operatingr electro-magnet, two or more are connected in series, and have only one button for each series. The number signals are operated by an electric motor 99, motion being transmitted from the motor shaft 100 to the friction rolls 57 by gearing hereinafter described. Each individual numeral signal is controlled through its electro-magnet A66, which has a corresponding button on the key board. The wiring of the numeral signal circuits is indicated in Fig.A 1 of the drawings. One side of the battery wire is connected with the push but-ton, and the other side extends to one end of the coil of the electro-magnet, the armature of which is connected with the movable gear element. The wire from the other end of the coil of such electro-magnet runs to the push button. The battery wire is common .to the several circuits, and one battery from eight to fifteen cells will operate every signal on the score board. A line shaft 101 is provided for each two rows of numeral signals, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and these line shafts are connected by belt and, pulley connections 102 with the motor shaft, but other forms of gearing may be employed for transmitting motion from the motor shaft to the line shafts. Each line shaft 101 is equipped with pulleys 1037 and is connected by upwardly and downwardly extending belts 104 and 105 with'pulleys 106 and 107 of theadjacent sets of numeral signals. When the motori isfstarted, the outer friction roll 57 of each number signal is rotated, and any one ofthe number 'signals may be displayed orchanged by pressing the -c'orrespondin push but-ton and holding the same until(Dr the desired nimiber appears on the score A double pole doublethrow switch 108 is employed. Two of the wires 109 and 110 from the source of current supply run to the lower binding posts of this double pole double throw switch 108, and two of the wires 111 and 112 from the operating motor run to the middle binding post of the switch 108. A third wire 113 from the source of current supply runs direct to the third terminal of the motor. The wires 114 and 115 of the switch `are crossed between the lower and the upper binding posts, and it will be seen that by throwing the switch t0 an upper position, two of the wires are reversed, and in this Waythe direction ofrot'ation Vof the motor is changed. The reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor enables the flexible strip to be rewound on the lower roll from which the flexible strip is first unwound, but the strip may be reversed if desired. Also the reversal of' the motor will enable the strip to be run back to the proper number should a wrong number be displayed through accident or mistake.' To operate any particular signal unit on the score board, itis only necessary to press thecorresponding button on the operating board and release the button as soon as the disk or number appears.

The frame of the score board, which may be made of any suitable material, can be advantageously constructed of flanged metallic bars 116, suitably connected and vformin rectangular openings to receive t-he signa casings, which are provided at the front with suitable attaching flanges 117 and 118. The signal casings are fitted in the rectangular openings, and the attaching fianges 117 and 118 are bolted or otherwise secured to the frame-work of the score board. In practice the score board will be suitably inclos'ed at the sides and back, and will be provided with a flexible curtain or closure consisting of metallic slats or bars and designed to be operated by the motor.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a score board having a plurality of apertures at the front and a plain background in rear of and spaced from the' apertures, a series of thin slats located at each of the apertures and arranged between the said aperture and the bac-lr ground and movable in unison to arrange them edgewise in a non-signaling position and expose the background and flatwise to form a signal, means for stopping the slats in their edgewise position, a key board consisting of a miniature of the score board and having push buttons, and electrical connec-` tions between the push buttons and the slats including actuating means for the latter.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a score board having a plurality of apertures at the front, and a plain background in rear of and spaced from the apertures, a series of thin slats connected together and arranged in the space between each of the apertures and the background, each slat being of a width less than the diameter of the aperture vwhile the combined widths of the slats exceed the diameter of the aperture, means for moving the slats in unison to arrange them flatwise in substantially the same plane to form a signal 4and edgewise in a non-signaling position to expose the background, means for stopping the slats in their movement to maintain tliem in their edgewise position, a key board consisting of a miniature of the score board and having push buttons, and electrical connections between the push buttons and the means for moving the slats.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a score board having at the front a plurality of apertures of the conventional shape used in base ball scoring, and a plain backgroundi in rear of and spaced from the apertures, a series of thin slats arranged between each of the apertures and the background and movable up.

wardly in unison to a flatwise position to form a signal and movable downwardly therefrom by gravity to a horizontal edgewise non-signaling position to expose the' background, means for stopping the slats in their downward movement to support them in their edgewise position, a keyboard consisting of a miniature ofthe score board and having push buttons, and electrical connections between the push buttonsand the slats including actuating means for the latter. v 4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a score board provided at the front with a plurality of apertures of the conventional shape used in base ball scoring and having a plain background in rear of and spaced from the apertures, a plurality of thi'n slats arranged. between each of the apertures and the background and horizontally pivoted and movable upwardly' and downwardly in unison to .arrange them atwise to form a signal and edgewise in a non-signaling position to expose the background, said slats being provided at the pivots with crank elements, a rod connected to each of the crank elements` means including an electro-magnet having an armature connected with the rod for actuating the slats, means for stopping the slatsy in their downward movement to support them in their edgewise position, a key board consisting of a miniature of the score boardand having push buttons, and electrical connections between the push buttons and the electro-,magnets of the slat actuating means. y

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a score board provided at the front with a plurality of apertures of the conventional shape used in base ball scoring and having a plain background in rear of and spaced from the apertures, a plurality of thin horizontally pivoted slats arranged between each of the apertures and the background and lhaving crank elements and movable upwardly in unison to arrange them fiatwise to form a signal and d ownwardly therefrom to a horizontalK edgewise non-signaling position to expose the background, a vertical rod connected with the crank elements and arranged tol stop the downward movement of the slats to support the same lin their edgewise position, means including an electro-magnet having an armature connected with the rod for actuating the slats, a latch arranged to engage the armature, means for operating the latch to release the armature, a key board consisting of a miniature of the score board and having pushbuttons, and electrical. connections between the push buttons, the electro-magnets of the slat actuating means and the latch opr-v erating means. Y

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a casing provided at the front with a plurality of apertures and having a black background in rear of and spaced from the apertures, thin slats pivoted horizontally between each of the apertures and the background and movable upwardly and downwardly to arrange them latwise to form a signal and edgewise in a non-signaling position to expose the background, the exposed faces of the said slats being painted in a light color, a rod connected with the' push buttons and the electro-magnets of the slat actuating means.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a casing provided at the front with a plurality of apertures of the conventional shape used in base ball scoring and having a plain background arranged in rear of and spaced from the apertures, a series of thin slats arranged between each of the apertures and the background and horizontally pivoted at one edge and movable upwardly and-downwardly in unison to arrange them flatwise to form a signal and edgewise in a non-signaling position to expose the background, said slats being adapted to swing downwardly by gravity, a rod connected with the slats and extending below the same to support the slats in an open edgewise position, an electro-magnet located above the series of slats and having an armature connected with the rod, a latch arranged to automatically engage the armature for locking the slats in their closed position, Ya key board consist-ing ofa miniature of the score and having push buttons, and electrical. connect-ions between the push buttons, the electro-magnets and the latch, said connections including means for operating the latch to release the armature.

8. lIn an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a score board provided at the front with a plurality of apertures of the conventional shape used in base ball scoring and having a vertical background arranged in rear of and spaced from the apertures, a series of thin slats located between each of the apertures and the background and horizontally pivoted at one edge and movable upwardly and downwardly in unison to arrange them flatwise to form a signal and in a horizontal edgewise non-signaling position to expose the background, a rod connected with the slats and extending below the' same to support the slats in their edgewise position, an electro-magnet located above the slats and having an armature located above the rod, a second electro-magnet forming a latch for engaging the armature of the first electro-magnet to retain the slats in their closed position, a key board consisting of a miniature of the score board and having push buttons, and electrical connections betwcenthe push buttons and the said electromagnets for actuating the slats and for operating the latches.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a score board provided at the front with a plurality of apertures'of the conventional shape used in baseball scoring and having a plain background-located in rea-r of the apertures, a series of thin slats pivoted horizontally between each of the apertures and the background and movable upwardly and downwardly-in unison to arrange them flatwise to form a signal and in a horizontal edgewise non-signaling position to expose the background, said slats being adapted to swing downwardly by gravity to their edgewise position, a rod connected with the slats and having an engaging portion to support the slats in their edgewise position, an electro-magnet located above the slats and having an armature connected with connected with the latch armature for normally urging the same into engagement with the other armature, .akey board consisting of aminiature of the score board and having push buttons, and electrical connections between the push buttons' and t-he electromagnets.

10. An apparatusof the class described including a casing having an aperture, a flexible strip provided at an intermediate portion of its length with characters and having terminal signal portions for indicating the ends of the strip, winding elements connected with the terminal portions of the strip, said terminal signal portions being of a length to be exposed at thesaid aperture before the flexible strip is entirely unwound from the said elements, and means for operating the winding element.

1l. An apparatus of the class ldescribed including a casing having an aperture, a flexible strip having an intermediate black portion bearing white characters, said strip being also provided with terminal red signal portions, winding elements connected with the terminal portions ofthe flexible strip, said terminal signal portions being of a length to be exposed at the said aperture before the flexible strip is entirely unwound from the said elements, and means for operating the winding elements.

12. An apparatus of the class described including a motor actuated gear element, a flexible strip having suitable characters, rolls for the flexible strip, gearing for operating t-he rolls, a movable gear element normally arranged out of contact with both the motor actuated element and the gearing, and electrical means including an electro-magnet connected with the movable gear element for moving the same to a position for communicating motion from the motor actuated element to the said gearing.

13. An apparatus of the class described comprising a motor actuated gear element, a flexible strip having suitable character rolls for the flexible strip, gearing for` operating the rolls, a movable gear element normally arranged out of contactwith both the motor actuated element and the gearing, and electrical means including an electro-magnet connected with the movable gear element for moving the same to a position for communicating motion from the motor actuated element to the said gearing, and springs for carrying the movable gear element out of engagement with the motor actuated gear. 14:. 'In an apparat-us of the class described, the combination of winding elements, a flexible strip provided with characters and having its terminals connected with and adapted to be wound around the winding element-s, means :tor operating the latter including an electric circuit having .a switch, and

means actuated by the flexible strip for operating the switch for automatically throwing the signal out of operation when the strip is entirely unwound from either of the winding elements.

15. An apparatus ofthe class described including winding elements, a flexible strip provided with characters and having itsiterminals connected with and adapted to be wound around the winding elements, means for displaying' a portion of the said strip, the latter being provided with a tension loop, yieldable means engaging the tensionloop to maintain the strip taut between the winding elements, means for operating the latter, and means operated by the said yieldable means for automatically throwing the signal out of operation.

16. An apparatus of the class described including a signal consisting of a flexible strip provided with characters, upper and lower spaced guiding rolls, spaced winding rolls having the terminal portions of' the flexible strip att-ached to them, said flexible strip being provided with a tension loop, a tension roll supported by the tension loop, and means operated by the tension.v roll for throwing the signal out of operation.

17,. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a score board comprising a plurality of casings, each having an aperture at the front of a diameter less than the casing and of the conventional shape employed in base ball scoring and provided in rear of the aperture with a plain background, a series of slats arranged in each of the casings between the aperture and the background and movable in unison to arrange them edgewise to expose the background and atwise to form a signal, means for stopping the slats in their edgewise position, a keyboard consisting of a miniature of the score board and having push buttons, and electrical connections between the push buttons and the slats and including actuating means for the latter.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a score board comprising a plurality of casings, each having an aperture at the front and a plain background in rear of the aperture, a series of designations adjacent to the apertures to indicate Balls, Strikes Outs, etc., said apertures beingpf the conventional shape employed in base ball scoring, a series of slats arranged within each of the casings in rear of the aperture between the same and the background and movable in unison to arrange them edgewise to expose the background and iiatwise to form a signal, means for stopping the slats in their edgewise position, a keyboard consisting of a miniature of the score board and having push buttons, and electrical connections between the push buttons and the slats including actuatingl means for the latter.

19. An apparatus of the class described comprising winding elements, a flexible strip provided with characters and connected with the winding .elements and having a tension loop, a tension member engaging the loop and maintaining the flexible connection taut between the winding elements, spaced gear elements mounted in relatively .fixed positions, one of' the said elements being motor driven, means for communicating motion from the other gear element to the winding y rolls, a relatively movable gear element adapted to be carried into and out of engagement with the said gear elements for communicating motion from the motor driven element to the winding elements, an electric circuit including an electro-magnet having an armature connected with the relativelymovable gear element, and a switch arranged in the said circuit and operated by the tension member to break the circuit.

20. An apparatus of the class described comprising winding elements, a flexible strip provided with characters and connected with the winding elements and having a tension loop, a tension member engaging the loop and maintaining the flexible connection taut between the winding elements, spaced gear elements mounted in relatively fixed positions, one of the said elements being motor driven, means for communicating mot-ion from the other gear element to the winding rolls, a relatively movable gear element adapted to be carried into and out of engagement with the said gear elements for communicating motion from the motor driven element to the winding elements, an electric circuit includmovable into and out of engagement with the other elements of the gearing to start and stop the winding elements, a circuit including an electro-magnet connected with the said movable gear element for carrying the same to and from its engaging position, a tension device carried by the tension loop, a switch arranged in the said circuit, and means connected with the switch and arranged in the path of the tension device and the other elements of the gearing to startl and stop the windingl elements, a clrcuit including an electro-magnet connected with the said movable gear element for carrying the sameto and from its'engaging position, a tension device carried by the tension loop, a switch arranged in the said circuit, means connected with the `switch and arranged in the path of the tension device and adapted to be actuated by the same to break the circuit, a lever arranged in the path ofthe tension device and adapted to be actuated by the same, and a second lever connected with he switch and with the Erst-mentioned ever.

23. An apparatus of the class described e ments, one of the members of the gearing being movable into and outof mesh, an electric circuit including an electro-magnet having an armature lconnected with the said memberof the gearing, av spring for'normally urging the said member to its inoperative position, a switch arranged in the circuit, a lever located in the pat-h of the tension member and adapted to be actuated by the same, and means for connecting the said lever with the switch for breaking the circuit.

24. An apparatus of the class described.

1 1 comprising a casing havingan aperture, up-

per and lower winding rolls, spaced guiding means arranged at the top and bottom of the aperture of the casing, a flexible binding strip extending across the space between the said guidingmeans and connected with the winding rolls and provided with a tensionloop, upper and lower gears connected Withthe Winding rolls, an intermediate gear meshing with the said gears, a friction roll having a pinion meshing vwith the intermediate gear, a motor driven roll spaced fromv the friction roll, a relatively movable roll adapted tobe carried into and out of engagement with the said friction rolls, a tension member supported by the tension loop, a circuit including an electro-magnet having an armature connected with the relatively movable friction roll for carrying the same into engagement with the other fric-` tion rolls, a switch arranged in the said circuit, and means connected with the switch Aand located in the path of the tension meinber and adapted to be actuated by the latter to break the circuit.

26. An apparatus of the 'class described comprising a score board having a series of apertures and a series of designations for such apertures to indicate Runs, Score by innings, etc., a strip arranged in rear of each aperture and bearing numerals adapted to be exposed at the apertures, means for moving the strip, a continuously rotating shaft, means for connecting Athe shaft With and disconnecting it from any one of the means formoving the strip, a key board `consisting of a miniature of the score board and having push buttons, and electrical connections between the push buttons and the connecting and disconnecting means.

27.,An apparatus of the class described comprising a score board having a series of apertures and a series of designations for such apertures to indicate Runs, Score by innings,'. etc., a strip arranged in rear of each of the apertures and bearing numbers adapted to be exposed at the apertures, means for moving the strip, a continuously rotating shaft, a single motor for operating the continuously rotating shaft, means for connecting the shaft with and disconnecting it from any one of the means for moving the strip, a key board consisting of a miniature of the score board and having push buttons, and electrical connections between the push buttons and the connecting and disconnecting means.

28. An apparatus of the class described comprising a score boardhaving a series of apertures and a series of designations for such apertures to indicate Runs, Score b 1nn1n0's etc. a iexible str1 arran ed` u a 7 in rear of each aperture and bearing nu-v merals adapted to be exposed at the apertures,-means for afetuating the strip, a single motor for all of the strip actuating mea-ns, means for connecting the motor with and disconnecting it from'any one of the strip actuating means, akey board consisting of a miniature of the score board and having push buttons, and electrical connections between the push buttons and the connectingv and disconnecting means.

29. An apparatus of the class described including aqplurality of signals, each conn sisting of a flexible strip provided. With characters, Winding elements having the tei minal portions of the strip attached to them, said flexible strip being provided With a tension loop, yieldable means engaging the tension loop to maintain the strip taut between the Winding elements, and means operated by the said yieldable means for automatically throwing a signal out of operation Without ai'ecting the other signals.

30. An apparatus of the class described including a score board provided With a group of character signals for indicating Balls, Strikes, Outs and the number of a player, and numeral signals for indicating Runs and the Score by in-A nings, each number signal including aexible strip having a tension loop, means for engaging the tension loop for maintaining the strip taut, a key board consisting of a' miniature of the score board and having push nals, electrical connections betweenthe push buttons of the key board and the 'signals of the score board, and means arranged tobe engaged by the tension loop engaging means for automatically cutting out afnumber Sgnal Without affecting the other signals.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signa ture in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

SAMUEL ARTHUR REDDING.

l/Vitnesses: y

EDMUND W. MARTIN, S. W. HOWARD.

buttons corresponding with the sig- 

